Heat responsive device



March 1965 F. A. GLOECKLER 3,171,935

HEAT RESPONSIVE DEVICE Filed Dec. 29'. 1961 37 l s7 INVENTOR.

5/ 52 FRED A. GLOECKLER BY 5a 59 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,171,935 HEAT RESPONSIVE DEVICE Fred A. 'Gloeckler, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Star Sprinkler Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Fiied Dec. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 163,335 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-142) This invention relates to fixed temperature thermostats.

Various fixed temperature responsive thermostats have heretofore been proposed but these have been slow and sluggish, have been lacking in compact character, have been d-ifiicult to inspect, or have had other defects in construction or operation.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a fixed temperature thermostat which is rapid in operation, is simple in construction, is easy to mount at the desired location for use, can be made to operate at a desired temperature level, and can be easily reset.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fixed temperature thermostat which is compact, attractive in appearance, and at the same time the operating condition thereof can be readily ascertained by inspection.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fixed temperature thermostat having a removable element so that the alarm or other circuit with which it is used can be readily tested upon removal of the element.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fixed temperature thermostat which is constructed and arranged to indicate that it has been operated, and in which a new or different temperature responsive element can be quickly and easily inserted as desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fixed temperature thermostat which is free from difiiculties from condensation or moisture collection therein.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, enlarged, of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the temperature responsive element and the mounting therefor.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a base is provided which can be made of any desired material but is preferably of a molded phenolic resin having electrical insulating properties. The base 10 is preferably of generally circular shape, has an outer rim section 11 with a vertically extending intermediate plate section 12 from which a central socket 14 of generally cup shape extends, in concentric relation to the rim section 11. The central socket 14 has a central circular space with an interior wall 15, a shoulder 16, an interior horizontal face 17 and a central opening 18.

The intermediate plate section 12 preferably has a plurality of openings 19 therethrough for the reception of mounting screws 20 for securing the base 10 to a connection box (not shown) and may have disposed in parallel "ice relation thereto a cover disk 21 of electrical insulating material seated in an annular recess 22 on the upper face 23 of the base 10. The plate section 12 is also preferably provided with one or more openings 24 extending from the upper face 23 of the plate section 12 and through the plate section 12 for ventilation and drainage to obviate the collection or retention of moisture in the interior of the base 10. Within the interior of the base 10 and preferably received within the cup shaped socket 14, a contact mounting plate 25 of electric insulating material is provided and may have an outwardly extending rim 26 which is received and retained in a complemental recess 27 in the wall 15. The plate 25 has a shoulder 28 engageable with the shoulder 16 for limiting the downward movement of the plate 25. The plate 25 is preferably also provided with an annular rim 29 for retaining a flexible diaphragm 30 of any desired material, such as Mylar, in position in engagement with the interior face 17 in the cup shaped socket 14.

The contact mounting plate 25 preferably has a pair of metallic contact bars 31 and 32 positioned by inner and outer positioning ribs 33 and 34 on the plate 25. The bars 31 and 32 are secured in position by metallic rivets 35 and have threaded conductor retaining screws 36 mounted therein for the engagement with conductors (not shown) for connection into the circuit in which the device is used.

Each of the rivets 35 preferably is provided on the lower end thereof with a metallic contact disk 37.

The contact mounting plate 25 preferably has an upper hollow head 40 with an end wall 41 formed on the plate 25. The head 40 has a central bore 42 therein and an enlarged opening 43 extending therefrom for the reception of a contact actuating pin 45 of any desired material, but preferably of insulating material.

The pin 45 has a shoulder 46 for the reception of a contact disk 47 and a spring 48 in engagement with the disk 47 and with the end wall 41 at the end of the bore 42 normally urges the pin 45 toward a position to bring the contact disk 47 into engagement with the contact disks 37.

A removable temperature responsive element 50 is provided insertable at the opening 18 which preferably includes a central hollow tubular sleeve portion 51 with an integral end flange 52 having a plurality of projections 53 on its periphery. The projections 53 are insertable in complemental openings 54 at spaced locations around the opening 18 (see FIG. 4) and the flange 52 is turned to seat the projections 53 in sockets 55 to retain the element 50 in place as hereinafter explained.

The tubular sleeve portion 51 has a plurality of heat transfer fins or disks 56 carried thereon and preferably in frictional or forced fit engagement with the exterior thereof. Within the interior of the tubular sleeve portion 51, a control portion 57 is provided which includes a control wall 58. The wall 58 has a cylindrical section 59 integral therewith and extending therefrom with an outwardly flared heat transfer fin or disk 60 also integral therewith. The cylindrical section 59 is of smaller diameter than the interior of the tubular sleeve portion 51 and is retained in position by a cylindrical connector 61, of material such as a ring or band of solder which is fusible at a predetermined temperature. The quantity and temperature responsive characteristics of the solder of the connector 61 determine the release point of the control portion 57.

The wall 58 is normally in engagement with terminal end of the pin 45 and holds the contact disk 47, against the force of the spring 48, in spaced relation from the contact disks 37. The fins 56 and 60 serve for making the action of the prevailing temperature condition eifective at the fusible connector 61 so that in the event that a predetermined temperature is attained in the vicinity the heat is made effective for fusing the solder of the 3 fusible connector 61, permitting the pin 45 urged by the spring 48, to move the control portion 57 outwardly. The contact disk 47 is thus brought to engage the contact disks 37 and completes a circuit (not shown) for purposes of voperating an alarm, a sprinkler system or otherdesired temperature responsive device.

It will be noted that when the control portion 57 has been released by fusing of the connector 61 the condition of the apparatus, both by the absence of the outer fin 60. and position ofthe pin 45, indicates that the fusing has occurred thus providing a tell-tale after operation.

It will also be noted that at any time, if desired, by turning the temperature responsive element 50 and-removing the same the alarm or control circuit can be tested. A different temperature responsive element 50 can be inserted, if desired, or the apparatus can be reset, after a fusing operation, by removing the remaining parts of the old temperature responsive element 50 and inserting a new element 50.-

I claim:

1. A fixed temperature responsive device for controlling an electric circuit comprising a base having fixed electric contact members and a movable electric contact member, aresiliently urged pin on which said movable contact member is mounted, said base having a central opening, a temperature responsive element removably carried by said base in said opening, said element having exteriorly of said base a control portion with a transverse wall in engagement with said pin, and a temperature responsive fusible. connector exteriorly of said basefor normally retaining said wall at a predetermined contact positioning location.

2. A fixed temperature responsive device as defined in claim 1 in which said temperature responsive element has a plurality of fins for conducting heatto said fusible connector.

3. A fixed temperature responsive device as defined in claim 1 in which said temperature responsive element has a flange portion with projections for releasable engage.- ment with said base.

4. A fixed temperature responsive device as defined in claim 1 in which said temperature responsive element has a flange portion detachably connected to said base, said flange portion has a tubular portion extending therefrom, said control portion has a cylindrical portion connected to said Wall, and said fusible connector is interposed be tween said tubular and said cylindrical portions.v

5. A fixed temperature responsive device as defined in claim 1- in which said temperature responsive element has a flange portion detachably connected to said base, said flange portion has a tubular portion extending therefrom, said control portion has a cylindrical portion connected to said .wall, and said fusible connector is interposed be-. tween said tubular and said cylindrical portions, oneof said last portions having a plurality of heat conducting fins for conductingheattosaid fusible connector.

6. A fixed temperature responsive device as defined in claim 1 in which said base has a plurality of vent openings therein.

7. A temperature responsive element comprising. a mounting flange having a tubular portion extending there-.

from, a heat transfer pin mounted on said tubular portion.

and a separable control portion having a cylindrical portion with a transverse end wall, said cylindrical. andtubular portions being concentrically disposed with a.

fusible connector therebetween normally preventing separation of said control portion.

8. A temperature responsive element comprising. a mounting flange having a tubular portion extending there.-. from, and a separable control member having a cylindrical-portion extending into said tubular-portion, said. control member having an interiorly disposed transverse end wall and an exteriorly disposed flange parallel to andspaced from said mounting flange, and a fusible connector interposed between said tubular-portion. and said cylin-. drical portion and normally preventing separtion of said control member, said transverse end wall normally clos-. ing said tubular portion in the holding condition. of said connector.

9. A temperature responsive element as defined in claim- 8 in which a plurality of heat transfer fins are mounted on said cylindrical portion between said flanges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,382 5/14 Clorius et al 200-142 1,368,230 2/21 Delaney 200-142 2,247,902 7/41 Bahr 200-142 2,420,775 5/47 Griffith 200-l42 2,871,314 1/59 Swain et al 200l35 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FIXED TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT COMPRISING A BASE HAVING FIXED ELECTRIC CONTACT MEMBERS AND A MOVABLE ELECTRIC CONTACT MEMBER, A RESILIENTLY URGED PIN ON WHICH SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER IS MOUNTED, SAID BASE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING, A TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID BASE IN SAID OPENING, SAID ELEMENT HAVING EXTERIOR OF SAID BASE A CONTROL PORTION WITH A TRANSVERSE WALL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PIN, AND A TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE FUSIBLE CONNECTOR EXTERIORLY OF SAID BASE FOR NORMALLY RETAINING SAID WALL AT A PREDETERMINED CONTACT POSITIONING LOCATION. 